Nail-feeding mechanism.



H. C. HERR.

NAIL FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED M0125, 1910. 1,137,316, Patented Apr. 27, 1915. I 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

SHINGmN, D. c.

H. C. HERR.

NAIL FEEDING MECHANISM.

Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 25, I910.

[277/277 f0) Z627. fflzrr HENRY c. HERR,'0E DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A'ssIcr' on', SBY M'EsNE ASSIGNMENTS, To soUTH' SIDE TRUST COMPANY, TRUSTEE, o I'ITTsEURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A com .BORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

AIL-FEEDI G MECHANISM.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY C. HERB, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State ofMichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Nail-Feeding Mechanism,- of.which the following is a specification, reference being had-therein to theaccompanying drawings;

The invention relates to nail feeding mechanism, and consists inv the novelconstruction of means for sorting and deliveringnails, applicableto various forms of nailing machines as hereinafter set forth.

My Improved machine comprises generally, mechanism for sorting an irregular mass. of nails and arranging the same in parallelism, further, means for feeding the parallelly arrangednails and delivering the same, and further, means associated with the feeding and delivery mechanismfor reversing the nails where such an operation is necessary for the proper delivery to the nailing machine.

A is asuitable supporting frame upon \vhich'is mounted a hopper or receptacle B for the nails which is arranged with its bottom C in inclined position. This bottom C is formed with a series of inverted V- shaped ribs D thereon arranged in parallelism and extending in the direction of inclination of the bottom. Between these ribs are formed V-shaped grooves D which at the bottom are of just sufficient width to freely receive the body of the nail but too narrow for the entrance ofthe head.

E are inverted V-shaped slides preferably formedof sheet metal and feeding over the ribs D' and slidable longitudinal thereon;-

These slides are attached to a cross-head F V which is reciprocated by suitable means such as the crank disks G upon the rotary shaft H, and the pitman' connection between Specification of Letters Patent. P t t d A 27, 1915 Application filed November 25, 1910. Serial No. 594,073.

said cranks and the cross-head F. The wall J of the receptacle B which is on the lower side thereof extends into proximity to the apices of the V-shaped ribs and is then undercut at J to form a recess of a length preferably equal at least to the length of the nail. At the end of this recess are dependent V-shaped lugs J 2 which fill the space between the ribs D with only sufficient clearance to permit the free sliding of the members E. The apices of these lugs J are however, cut-away at J to form a channel of sufficient size for the passage of a nail and its head out from the receptacle.

Extending downward from the receptacle B are inclined nail guides preferably formed by slots K in a bed member K forming an extension of the bottom C. The slots K are in alinement with the grooves D in the bottom C'of thereceptacle and are of width to permit the passage of the body of the nail therethrough but preventing the passage of the head, these slots extending beneath the lugs J which latter extend beneath the wall J of the receptacle, as shown in Fig. 1.

L are stops preferably formed by a plate secured. to the lower end of the lugs J and depending into line with the channelsv J 3 in the path of the nail heads. The stops are so positioned that the distance between the same and the upper ends of the guide slots .K is greater than the length of a nail, the arrangement being such that a nail passing head first through the channel J 3 upon striking the stop L will be thrown downward, the body passing through the slot K while the head remains in engagement with the guide. When in this position the nails are free to slide downward along the guide being suspended by their heads.

I At the lower end of the bed K is arranged a delivery mechanism by which a single nail from each of the slots K may be extracted therefrom, all of said nails being simultaneously delivered. This mechanism comprises a reciprocatory bar M movable transversely of the guides at the lower end thereof and having notches M which normally register with the slots K. Above the bed K is a cross-bar N which is slotted at N for the passage of the heads of the nails, and is also recessed at N adjacent to the lower. end of the slot, the recess having an inclined cam face N at one edge thereof.

The end of the bed plate K is also notched still in engagement with the notch, while the head will pass into the recess N here the cam face N forces the nail out of engagement with the notch M permitting it to fall through the recess K which is of sufficient size for the passage of the head.

With the construction as thus far described in operation the nails are placed in the receptacle B in an irregular mass resting upon the grooved bottom G; here the reciprocatory movement of the slides E will cause the shifting of the lowermost nails by frictional contact therewith tending to straighten them out to arrange them inparallelism and this tendency is increased by the action of gravity and the inclined face of the ribs D. Thus the grooves D will be gradually filled with parallelly arranged nails which however, will be irregular as to the arrangement of the heads, some being arranged with their heads downward and others with their heads upward. The lowermost nail in the groove D will rest with its head against the sides of the slides E While the body is free to drop between said slides onto the bottom of the groove D. In this position if the nail is arranged with its head downward it will be frictionally carried with the downward movement of the slides E and will be carried into the channel J which is of sufficient size forthe passage of the head, finally passing out through said channel and dropping into engagement with the groove K. If on the other hand the nail is arranged with the head at the upper end it must be prevented from entering the channel J as there would be danger of more than one nail entering said channel at the same time and thereby producing a For thispurpose a stop 0 is placed in the groove D and preferably a plurality of said stops are so arranged and will engage with the point of any nails which extend point downward but will not engage the heads of the nails, since the stops are positioned in the bottom of the groove and the latter at their base are of lesserwidth than the head of the nail. Thus further downward movement of the nail will be arrested, and as soon as the slides E in their downward movement pass from beneath the head it will drop to be in the path of the endof said slides on the return movement which will carry the nail backward. 7

It will be evident from' the description just given that the nails which are arranged with heads downward, upon reaching the bottom of the groove D will be permitted to feed outward through the channels J but the nails reversely' arranged with heads upward will be moved backward by the slides, furnishing space for other nails from above to take their places. This will bring 4 about a slow rotation of the mass of nails within the receptacle and in the end those nails which were originally arranged points downward will be reversed and will drop between the slides with heads downward. To prevent danger of a series of nails arranging themselves end-to-end in the groove D andobstructing upward movement of the slides, the ribs D are cut-away at the upper end of the receptacle leavingv aspace D which is more than the length of one nail.

In this space nails which-are.in alinement with a series of nails in the groove D will be permitted to move .angularly and thus will not obstruct the slides.

Whenever anail arranged head downward is drawn outward by the slides E through the channel J it will continue to move until arrested by the stop L. The lower endsof the slides E adjacent to the cross-head F are slightly cut-away at E providing a clearance space through which the head of the nail can pass, and beneath this cut-away portion is a depression K in the bed K. Thus in the upward movement of the slide the nail will remain in contact with the stop L until the'cut-away portion E permitsthe head to drop into the depression K whereupon it is freed from the stop L and can slide downward through the groove'K. As the nails accumulate in this groove K they will mount higher therein until finally. the nail last deposited will remain beneath the cut-away portion E of the slots and will prevent the nail next drawn downward by the slides from dropping through said cutaway portion. This will temporarily stop K may beformed as a channel of greater width than the slot K and sufficient to receive the head of. the nail.

The nails when released by the reciprocatory bar M will fall pointdownward. For

certain machines it is desirable to feed the nails head downward and also to accurately time the release so that all of the nails simultaneously extracted-by the bar M will bedroppedat the same instance. For this purpose the machines may be provided with the reversing mechanism comprising a rotary bar if having pockets P therein which register with the nails released'by the bar M. Below the reversible member P are ar- *ment of said bar is a segmental guide R.

S is a gate or slide'which is normally in a position to cover the'conduits Q.

T are springs for retracting said gate which are sleeved upon guides T and abut against supporting bearings T U is a finger or lug projecting from the slide or gate S, and V is a cam cooperating withthis lug or finger to move the gate to its normal position against the'tension of the spring T. The cam V has a notch V in its periphery which when in registration with the lug U will permit it to move backward under the actuation of the spring 'I- thereby withdrawing the slide or gate.

With the construction just described the nails released by the reciprocatory bar'M are first deposited in the pockets P of the reversible member P, and as the latter is rotated are carried around, being held from displacement by the segmental guide R until the heads of the nails rest upon the gate or slide S in registration with the feed conduits Q. When in this position the rotation of the cam V will register the notch V with the lug or finger U and the action of the spring T will instantaneously withdraw the gate, dropping all of the nails-simultaneously head downward into their respective conduits.

For driving the mechanism employed in moving the slides E operating the extractor bar M and the reversing bar P, suitable means is provided which as shown consists of the shaft WV on which the cams V are directly mounted. From this shaft the shaft H is driven through the medium of intermeshing gears IV and W thelatter being formed on the periphery of the cranks G. The member P is rotated from the shaft W by the intermeshing gear wheels X and X, and a-cam Y carried by the-gear wheel X engaging an anti-friction roll Y on the bar M serves to actuate said bar in one direction. The return movement of the bar M is effected by a spring Z.

What I claim as my invention is: Y

1. :In a nail feeding machine, the combi nation with a receptacle for an irregular mass of nails, means operating within said receptacle for arranging the nails in parallelism, means permitting the successive passing out of said parallelly arranged nails from the receptacle when arranged head foremost, and means for successively withdrawing from said parallelly arranged nails, those which are point foremost.

2. In a nail feeding machine, the combination with a receptacle for an irregular mass of nails, of a reciprocating member within said receptacle for eifecting a parallel arrangement of the lowermost nails therein, means permitting the successive extraction from said receptacle of those of the parallelly arranged nails which arehead foremost and for Withdrawing from said parallelly arranged nails those that are" point foremost.

3. In: a nail feeding machine the combination with a receptacle for an irregular mass of nails, of means operating within said receptacle for arranging the lowermost nails thereof in parallelism, and selective means operating upon said parallelly arranged nails for successively feeding those having their heads arranged in one direction out from the receptacle and for returning-to the irregular mass those of the parallelly arranged nails those whose heads are in the opposite direction.

4. In a nail feeding machine the combination with a receptacle for an irregular mass of nails having a grooved and inclined bottom, of a slide covering a side of the groove, means for reciprocating said slide, and a channel registering with the bottom of the groove through which nails are successively fed by said slide.

5. In a nail feeding machine, the combination with a receptacle for an irregular mass of nails, of a grooved and inclined botbody of the nail to rest upon the inclined bottom, means for reciprocating said slide, and a channel in registration with the bottom of said groove through which the nails therein are successively extracted.

6. In a nail feeding machine, the combination with a receptacle for an irregular mass of nails, of a bottom for said receptacle having a V-shaped groove therein inclined longitudinally, a slide covering the angling sides of said groove cut-away at the bottom to permit the passage ofthe body of a nail therebetween but aflordingsupport for the headof the nail, a wall for the lower side of said receptacle apertured for the passage of said slide therethrough, and a depending portion on said wall between the angling sides of said slide for restricting said aperture to a size for the passage of one nail and its head therethrough.

7. In a nail feeding machine, the combination with a receptacle for an irregular mass of nails, of a bottom for said receptacle having a V-shaped groove therein in clined longitudinally and having at its bottom a slide or channel of just suificient width to receive the body of a nail, a slide movable longitudinally of'said groove and covering the sides thereof but cutaway at the bottom in registration with said narrow slot, a wall for the lower side of said receptacle through which said slide passes having a channel therethrough at. the bottom of the groove of just suflicient size for lit!) the passage of one nail and its head, and means in said narrow slot for intercepting the downward passage of a nail in said groove when moving point foremost.

V groove but cut-away to permit the body of the nail to pass therebetween, said slides extending outward through the lower side Wall of the receptacle, means for reciprocating said slide to arrange the nails in parallelism in the groove, a channel in the lower side wall of the receptacle through which a single nail and its head can pass, and a stop on the stationary bottom of said groove for arresting point foremost nails carried on said slides.

9. In a nail feeding machine, the combination with a receptacle for an irregular mass of nails, of a bottom for said receptacle having a series of parallel V-shaped grooves therein inclined longitudinally with inverted V-shaped ribs therebetween, inverted V-shaped slides covering said ribs and the sides of said grooves but cut-away to expose the stationary bottom of the groove a suflicient width for the body of a nail, a wall for the lower side of said receptacle through which said slides pass cut-away to form channels at the bottom of the grooves sufficient for the passage of a single nail and its head, and means for reciprocating said slides to alternately cover and uncover the sides of said grooves to an extent more than the length of a nail.

10. In a nail feeding machine, the combination with a receptacle for an irregular mass of nails, of a bottom for said receptacle having a V-shapedgroove therein inclined longitudinally, a slide covering the sides of said groove but cut-away at the bottom for the passage of the body of a nail therebetween, a wall for the lower side of said receptacle through which said slide passes cut-away to form a channel registering with the lower portion of said groove suliicient for the passage of a nail and its head, and means for reciprocating said slide to alternately cover and uncover the sides of said groove and movable to an extent more than the length of one nail. V

11. In a nail feeding machine, the combination with a receptacle for an irregular mass of nails, of a bottom for said receptacle having a series of parallel V-shaped grooves therein inclined longitudinally, inverted V- shaped ribs between adjacent grooves cut-away at its upper end, an inverted V-shaped slide covering said rib and the sides of the adjacent grooves but cut-away to expose the bottoms of said grooves, and a lower side wall for said 'receptacie through which said slide passes providing channels in:registration with said grooves sufficient for'the passage of a singie nail and its head therethrough,cand

means for reciprocating said slide.

shaped slide covering said rib but exposing the bottoms of said grooves, a lower-side wallfor said receptacle throughwhich said slide passes having dependent lugs on opposite sides thereof extending into said grooves but cut-away for the passage of a single nail and its head, and means for reciprocatin said slide. 7

18. In a nail feeding machine, the combination with a receptacle for an irregular mass of nails, of a bottom for said receptacle having a V-shaped groove therein inclined longitudinally, a reciprocating slide covering the sides of said groove but cut-away at the bottom, a lower side-wall for said receptacle through which said slide passes providing a channel in registration with the bottom of said groove for, the passage of a single nail and its head, a stop at the outer end of said channel for engaging the head of the nail, and a guide slotted for the drop of the body of the nail therethrough-when the head thereof is arrested by said stop.

14. In a nail feeding machine, the combination with a receptacle for an irregular mass of nails, of an inclined reciprocating slide passing into and out from said receptacle said slide having V-shaped sides for supporting the head of a nail cut-away at the bottom for the passage of the body of the nail therethrough, a channel in the wall of said receptacle throughwhich a single nail and its head can pass while the latter is supported on said slide, a guide for the nail outside said receptacle in alinement with said channel slotted for the passage of the body of the nail, and a stop for the head of the nail above said guide spaced from the upper end of said slot equal to the length of a nail whereby said nailwill be turned into a substantially vertical-position, said guide having a depression into which the head of the nail drops to disengage from said slot and provide clearance for the head of a succeeding nail.

15. In a nail feeding machine, the combination with a receptacle for an irregular mass of nails, of an inclined bed forming the bottom of said receptacle, and a nail guide extending beyond the same, inverted V- shaped ribs on said bed within the receptacle forming a series of parallel downwardly inclined V-shaped grooves .therebetween, in-

verted V-shaped slides covering said ribs the wall of said receptacle having channels through which said slides pass registering with the bottom portionsof said grooves and providing passage for the head of a nail therethrough, and said bed having slots beyond said receptacle in registration with said channels and of a width for the passage of the body of a nail, and stops for the heads of the nails spaced a predetermined distance from the upper ends of said slots.

16. In a nail feeding machine, the combination with a receptacle having a channel through which alined nails are successively fed, of an inclined guide in registration with said channel slotted for the passage of the body of a nail but affording support-for the head, and a stop spaced a predetermined distance from the end of said slot and adapted to engage the nail head.

17. In a nail feeding machine, the combination with a nail receptacle having a channel for the passage of a nail and its head out therefrom. of a slide for carrying the nail out through said channel, said slide being slotted for the passage of the body of a nail therethrough and at its forward end being cut-away for the passage of the head of the nail for the purpose described.

18. In a nail. feeding machine the combination with a guide in which a series of nails are suspended by their heads, of a member reciprocating transversely of the end of said guide for receiving and supporting by the head, a single nail, and a cam engaging the nail While carried by said reciprocating member for disengaging the head from its support.

19. In a nail feeding machine, the combination with an inclined guide for suspending a series of nails by their heads and feeding the same by gravity, of a member reciprocated transversely of the lower end of said guide for receiving therefrom a single nail and supporting'the same by its head, and a stationary cam for engaging the head of said nail during the reciprocation of said member and disengaging it from its support.

20. In a nail feeding machine, the combination with a receptacle for an irregular massof halls, of reclprocatlng means wlthin said receptacle for arranging the halls in alinement, a channel through which nails may be successively fed head foremost from the receptacle, a stop for intercepting the point foremost nails before engagement of the same with said channel, andmeans for carrying said arrested nails backward to clear the pathfor succeeding nails.

21. In a nail feeding mechanism, the combination with areceptacle for an irregular mass of nails having a grooved and inclined bottom, of a'slide covering a side of the groove, means for reciprocating said slide, a channel registering with the lower end of the groove through which the nails are successively fed by said slide, and a guard in said receptacle above the mouth of said channel for preventing a wedge of nails therein.

22. In a nailfeeding machine, the combination with a receptacle for an irregular mass of nails, means operating in the receptacle for feeding the lowermost nails from within the receptacle to without the same head foremost, and means within the receptacle for preventing the feeding of the nails having their points foremost.

23. In a nail feeding machine, the combination with a receptacle for an irregular mass of nails, means reciprocating across the bottom of the receptacle for feeding nails to without the receptacle, means cooperating with said reciprocatory means, permitting the feeding of the nails arranged head foremost, and means preventing the feeding of nails arranged point foremost.

24. In a nail feeding machine, the combination with a receptacle for an irregular mass of nails, of a grooved and inclined bottom for said receptacle, a channel in registration with the bottom of said groove through which the nails therein are suc-.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

